A spring blizzard that struck central Montana overnight closed interstate highways across several passes Friday because snowplow drivers are on strike. So are the state's highway patrolmen, parole officers, university workers and prison guards. Highway Department officials said another snowstorm forecast to hit Friday night could dump up to four more feet of snow in the mountains.

Thousands of state employees ended a six-day strike Tuesday and returned to work, grumbling that the final agreement was negotiated by the governor and the state Legislature without the unions' participation. On the last day of its session, the Democratic-controlled Legislature passed a compromise pay bill that Republican Gov. Stan Stephens signed at 11:50 p.m. Monday.

More than 4,000 Montana government employees went on strike Thursday to protest the veto of a state pay raise and the National Guard was called out to maintain essential services. The strikers include 90% of the state's Highway Patrol troopers. Republican Gov. Stan Stephens called the strike "self-defeating for everybody" and blamed Democratic lawmakers for falsely raising the hopes of state employees. He said he stood by his veto of a 60-cent hourly pay raise for most workers.

A spring blizzard that struck central Montana overnight closed interstate highways across several passes Friday because snowplow drivers are on strike. So are the state's highway patrolmen, parole officers, university workers and prison guards. Highway Department officials said another snowstorm forecast to hit Friday night could dump up to four more feet of snow in the mountains.

Thousands of state employees ended a six-day strike Tuesday and returned to work, grumbling that the final agreement was negotiated by the governor and the state Legislature without the unions' participation. On the last day of its session, the Democratic-controlled Legislature passed a compromise pay bill that Republican Gov. Stan Stephens signed at 11:50 p.m. Monday.

More than 4,000 Montana government employees went on strike Thursday to protest the veto of a state pay raise and the National Guard was called out to maintain essential services. The strikers include 90% of the state's Highway Patrol troopers. Republican Gov. Stan Stephens called the strike "self-defeating for everybody" and blamed Democratic lawmakers for falsely raising the hopes of state employees. He said he stood by his veto of a 60-cent hourly pay raise for most workers.